Simon Keith

Simon Sean Keith (born 25 May 1965) is a British/Canadian soccer player. He is the first athlete to have played professional sports after having undergone a heart transplant.

To raise awareness for organ donation, he founded the Simon Keith Foundation in 2011.

Early life and education Simon Keith was born on 25 May 1965, to David Keith, and Sylvia. The family moved to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 1967. He played his youth soccer for the Victoria Boys Club and later the Lansdowne Evening Optimists. He went to Mount Douglas Secondary School The surgery was done in Papworth Hospital outside London by Dr. Mohsin Hakim and Sir Terence English. He then became the first athlete to have played professional sports after having undergone a heart transplant. by the Cleveland Crunch of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Keith also played professionally for the Victoria Vistas, the Winnipeg Fury and Montreal Supra of the Canadian Soccer League.

Speaker At the age of 50 he said: Within me beats the heart of an incredible young Welsh athlete, whose loss of life enabled me to live mine. Since receiving this gift of life, I have dedicated my time advocating for organ donation awareness and the benefits of living an active lifestyle following an organ transplant.

Keith spoke at the White House in 2016 as part of President Obama's Organ Summit. Keith has also spoken at the Canadian and British Parliaments and travels the world telling his story and inspiring others. Keith is now the CEO of the Simon Keith Foundation, founded to increase awareness of organ donor awareness and educate transplant recipients. Keith is one of the longest-living heart transplant recipients and has lived the majority of his life with his second heart. In March 2019, Keith underwent his second heart transplant surgery along with a kidney transplant.

Keith belongs to the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame and the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was honored as Canada's Humanitarian of the Year. In 2022, Keith was awarded the prestigious Silver Rebel Award as a member of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Athletic Hall of Fame.

Second heart transplant In March 2019 he received a second heart transplant and a new kidney in San Diego.

Simon Keith Foundation To raise awareness for organ donation, he founded the Simon Keith Foundation in 2011.